Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?The demo we released when we started the band was mostly written by our vocalist, Tory. It wasn't until we got into a room and started writing as a band that all these other influences started creeping in. We all have a background in the hardcore scene, so our new material is a little more aggressive, while still maintaining a pop sensibility.

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?We look up to a lot of our friends in bands and the sacrifices they make to be able to tour full time. Hopefully we can follow and do the same!

You’re one of the winners of our Unify competition. What can punters at the Unify festival in Gippsland expect from the Harbours live show?It's a shorter set, we've cut a few of the ballads so expect 20mins of high energy & riffs.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?Pick Harder - THE Steven Cannatelli

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?Pretty much anything by Tame Impala.

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?No Control by a band called Holland.Their lead singer is now killing it as a pop star and I don't think too many people know about his past project!

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?Sunken Eyes - Sunk Loto

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?Invasion Fest.Was a great day filled with a lot of Underground talent from around the country.

Tell us about the bands or people in the Melbourne music community that inspire you.Our friend Running Touch is killing it at the moment. Check out Ocean Grove too.

My earliest influences came from the soul and blues my mother played around the house when I was a kid – Aretha Franklin, The Bee Gees and the Doobie Brothers were on regular rotation. From there, I learned to play the cello for 6 years, and I first discovered hip hop when my cousin handed me Lupe Fiasco’s Food and Liquor record when I was 12. From there, I studied the greats like Nas, Slick Rick and A Tribe Called Quest, and artists like these really instilled my old school style early on.

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

My experiences in life. Music’s an outlet for me to voice my journey in trying to figure out life and grow in myself, and I love being able to share what I encounter along the way through my music. Hip hop holds the unique ability to tell stories in a deeply authentic way, so I always hope to have my music reflect this.

What can punters expect from a Kirklandd live show?

A very, very big vibe. My live set’s become this cool blend of hype and intimate storytelling, and this is how I most love connecting with people: through good energies and sharing my experiences with the audience before me. My drummer Josh and I have really levelled up our performance routine for the Impulse tour, and especially our GTM set this weekend – I can’t wait to show Canberra the surprises we have in store.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

I can’t remember who said this to me, but to always enjoy the process. Immerse yourself in the experience of creating, find fulfilment in the process, and thrive in the journey to finishing it. Everything will follow from there.

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

‘WUTD’ by Genesis Owusu. WUTD? Cry, or boogie?

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?

‘Waiting’ by KIAN. Those chords are really beautiful man.

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?

‘Compliment My Shirt’ by Saint Lane. That’s the g right there.

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?

The last show I went to was around a week back in Sydney. I went to do a short performance of some unreleased music I have coming with a good homie of mine, Francoistunes, at a One Day Party that Kaiit was headlining in Marrickville. The vibe was so strong. I love the live culture the One Day crew have built. Kaiit is one of the warmest, most genuine performers ever, and seeing everyone turn up for her was awesome. And she has the coolest rider on the planet.

Tell us about the bands or people in the Canberra music community that inspire you.

All of them; bands, creatives and all members of our community. The mutual support between artists and creatives in our city is incredible, and we’re constantly pushing each other to go further and create the best art we can. It’s the best feeling knowing if one of us is winning, all of us are, and we’re all forming Canberra’s musical identity in the process. It’s a crazy exciting time for our city and I’m blessed to be a part of it.

What are your plans for 2019?

This week we’re kicking off the Impulse tour with Groovin the Moo as our first date. Then we’re hitting Melbourne and Sydney for the first time in a long while, with Zellow supporting us nationally, and I can’t wait to bring the live experience of Impulse to our Sydney and Melbourne family. From there, I’m diving back in the studio with Cam to finish the follow up to Impulse, which I’m hoping will be my strongest single yet. A lot more music is yet to come this year and I’m wildly excited to share where my sound is heading.

So I really just make what I wanna hear. I’m that guy that’s always craving new music/new sound, constantly browsing Soundcloud etc. I’m still not sure how my sound was developed though - but if it feels good, it must be, and if it’s different - it’s new.

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

Life.

What can punters expect from your live show?

Lights, graphics and good vibrations.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

So I’m actually fortunate enough to work with a super creative team that have taught me a whole lot over the past 12 months. The best advice is constant from them - so yeah mad S/O’s to Rosco, Mikah, Vance and Chris! Sounds like munnnny.

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

Depends on who's crying. And like why are you crying for? As for song choice, I’d sing them the national anthem in my Mr. Bean voice - surely that would cheer up the crying person.

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?

Hermitude - The Buzz. That track is next level. That album is next level. Yeah.

Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?So our music is basically what we would call experimental hip hop. We first begun working on music together with the intention of just trying to make something we would want to hear. Developing our sound was a natural process. Just basically jamming out and coming up with something we liked.

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?Tough one. Our inspiration comes from all sorts of different places and also we have individual influences. Some artist we like are Pink Floyd, Madlib, Ratking, Kanye West.

You’re the winner of our One Night Stand competition. What are you most looking forward to about playing the event in Mildura?The whole thing! A chance to have our music heard by so many people who would have no idea who we are, and a chance to meet the other bands!

What can One Night Stand punters expect from the WZRDKID live show?We've been working really hard on our live show. We are playing with a live band! So that will be tight

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?Not too sure as far as advice! But the reviews we've got from the triple j dudes on triple j unearthed have been pretty awesome! Our dawg Lewi ;)

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?Sticky fingers - 'Gold Snafu'

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?Matt Corby - 'Big Eyes'

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?Tkay Maidza - 'Brontosaurus'

Tell us about the bands or people in the Victorian music community that inspire you.Chet Faker would be one.

What are your plans for WZRDKID in 2014?To finish our album "Black Ocean" and go on tour would be dope!

The first thing I attempted to produced when I began making music was sample based hip hop instrumentals. At the time I was listening to MF DOOM and his various aliases and Wu-tang also, this was back in 2010. The year earlier I was really into hardstyle and techno music, I know right, what a complete 180. Anyhow, I picked up interest in electronic music around late 2012 and started to dabbling with a lil bit of dubstep, trap and most recently Jersey Club. All under my first project named "EP". Throughout this time I didn't have any idea of music theory, I just had a keen ear. I took the time last year in year 12 to get piano lessons which were pretty beneficial. Fast forward to March of this year, which was when UV boi was born. With my new honed skills I returned to making hip hop but with this new UV boi spice.

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

The internet, especially via Soundcloud. There's just an endless stream of cool music on there. Some of the people I've come across on there are as young as 13 and are already doing wonders.

What can punters expect from a UV boi live show?

You can expect me dressed in a full Adidas tracksuit strapped in my durag squat for 20 minutes straight during the pre of my set. On stage, I use an APC and an MPD. Launching clips with the APC on Ableton and playing stripped sounds from my track on the MPD (eg. drums or vocal cuts or instruments, whatever really).

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

"Make bangers" - Eli Marsland

"Keep making music. you're really good at this" - Lochie Riordan

Most importantly though, are the people who I showed my first crappy beats to and have always been supportive and seen something. Shouts out to Erina, Eoghan, Cheyne, Kai and Joe Joe.

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

Renz - Look Good On Me

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?

Ben Lee - Cigarettes Will Kill You (Horrorshow and Jane Tyrell Cover)

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?

Ahhh I haven't been exposed to many local gigs that I haven't been apart. UV boi has only just become UV man, so I'm excited to experience those cool pub gigs.

Tell us about the bands or people in the Brisbane music community that inspire you.

Brisbane has a cool small community of electronic artists but not really many in the same line of my style though. I haven't connected with these other Brisbane artists yet mainly because they most likely don't even know my existence haha. In the future I'd like to get to know them. I had befriended two prior to creating UV boi. These cool dudes are ELI and Kraznov.

What are your plans for UV boi in 2014?

The plan for 2014 is to enjoy things and connect. A lot of cool things are happening very fast and all at once. I plan to work on an icy UV boi ep shortly, whilst still releasing singles here and there and maybe even some official remixes too. If you're a Brisbaner, you may see me out and about playing a few shows every now and then. Stay connected with me and we'll rock durags and squat together. SquatSquad

When we started out we were just trying to rip off The Bronx and Hot Snakes, I would be a liar if I didn’t admit to that! Though I think over time we have developed a signature sound- basically we’ve just tried to distil everything into a really immediate sound that aims for your feet first and your head next.

Tell us about the punk scene in Adelaide.

I think it’s going through a really interesting transitory stage, a lot of the bands have disappeared, but there are some cool new ones there to step up. There’s a massive variety, you have bands like Paper Arms pulling off the Hot Water Music thing flawlessly, really heavy bands like Robotosaurus and Choc Chip, the twelve piece funk/punk extravaganza that is GodGodDammitDammit and then there’s us…. I’m not sure where we fit in exactly!

And you live show? I imagine you pack a punch..

We try to give it everything we have, play the songs as well and as loud as possible, have a refreshing pint and basically just make it a good time for everyone involved! You’re not there to watch a light show or listen to poetry or political rants, you’re there to have fun, and that’s what we try to deliver.

What’s coming up in the future?

The most noteworthy thing is that we have finished recording and mastering our debut full length album. It’s called “Songs the Devil Taught Us”, we’re really proud of it, and we’ve had nothing but really enthusiastic responses from everyone who has heard it which is awesome. At present we’re just determining exactly how and when it will be released, hopefully that’s not too far down the track!

Australian music is?

What you make of it! It’s a pretty hackneyed thing to say but if you support your local bands, get out there to shows and buy the band’s records, you’re keeping it real and keeping the grass roots of great music alive!

Featured Artist

Brisbane rockers WAAX areone of the winners of our BIGSOUND competition and will be playing our BIGSOUND showcase at Oh Hello this Thursday September 11 alongside Eves, Milwaukee Banks, Little May and Client Liaison. Get to know these "5 ratbags from Brisbane" below...

Two chicks; three dudes. The sound we now know to be WAAX developed out of being a show-focused band. We just wanted our shows to be exciting and intense; and that was naturally manifested in our recordings. Our songs are like a harsh aural reality-check with an unexpected nurturing side – kind of like a tough mother-figure filtered through a shitload of fuzz.

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

It keeps us somewhat sane.

You’re one of the winners of our BIGSOUND competition. What can punters at our BIGSOUND showcase expect from the WAAX live show?

Honestly, you’ll be immersed in something you wouldn’t expect of 5 ratbags from Brisbane. We’re about mood. Sometimes loud and angsty; sometimes super reflective – but there’s always passion and I can guarantee you will be more than entertained.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

Patience is so important, keep going and things will be delivered to you – our buddy Tyler from Soundpound.

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

'Vitriol' by Bluejuice. Such a fun song.

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?

'Never Tear Us Apart' by INXS. Makes me cry or feel like crying every time.

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?

Jagwar Ma! Any track by those guys.

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?

Went to go see Ayla at Black Bear Lodge. She had some real sweet tunes!

Tell us about the bands or people in the Queensland music community that inspire you.

We’re real inspired by bands like DZ Deathrays or Violent Soho to more local heroes Baskervillain…And of course all those crazy event-wizard people like Lachie who runs Kaleidoscope Festival or Ray who runs Psych Night and Junglelove Festival – these dudes bust their arses to give local bands a go.

What are your plans for the rest 2014?

Firstly we just hope to survive BIGSOUND! It’s like music Christmas! And then after that, hopefully hop on some tour supports, finish off our EP…set the foundations for a ripper 2015.

Trial and error haha. We started as a 4 piece, first EP was a 3 piece, and then when our old bassist had to leave the band we did a few shows as a 2 piece and it worked. It worked better than ever actually. It just gelled. Since then we have just be refining our songs and sounds to work as a 2 piece.

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

Friends, touring, big weekends and fucking up haha

What can punters expect from The Hard Aches live show?

A high energy, sing along filled, roudy, intimate affair.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

"Don't Freak Out" pretty much applies to everything in life. We try to live by it, though fail pretty hard haha

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

Good question. The Keepsakes - Crocodile Onsie, it's an album but you could choose any song really . It's probably my fav SA release, it just makes you feel real good inside.

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?

Wil Wagner - Laika, if you dont cry at this track you have no soul.

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?

Anything by Suburban and Coke or The Bennies - My Bike.

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?

Our show at the Brisbane Hotel. It hasnt been yet but I am gonna preempt that it is gonna cut sick. Always a good time down here.

Tell us about the bands or people in the Adelaide music community that inspire you.

Adelaide rules. We are constantly inspired and driven by the bands, people and venues in a city we are beyond stoked to call home. There is so much good stuff going on there. Last week I was lucky enough to be involved in a Day Of Clarity (a mini festival put on by Adelaide label Clarity Records), the show was spread over 4 venues with 6 shows happening over one night and attracting nearly 1000 people throughout the night. That show was such a good indicator of the liveliness of the Adelaide scenes. It kicked ass. We are lucky to be surrounded by so many good artists to not only play with but but be gobsmacked by there amazing talents. Some honourable mentions would have to go out to: Todd Fogarty, Hightime, Bec Stevens, Sincerely Grizzly, Secondhand Squad, Tiger Can Smile. Thats just to name a few. I could go on all night.

What are your plans for the rest of 2015?

We are on tour at the moment in support of our album release. We have another smaller run of shows in July and a more extensive tour in August. We are working on our second album right now too. We're planning to release a new EP before the end of the year and record the 2nd album at the same time for an early 2016 release. Basically we are gonna just book ourselves up pretty solid from now til forever with touring to our fav places as well as some new places we havent had the chance to play yet and releasing new music.

Our sound has kind of just changed as time has gone on; we wear our hearts on our sleeves and you can hear our influences in the music. When we all first started jamming we were a weird stripped back folky thing but once we wound up plugging our acoustics into fuzz pedals we knew it was time for a change. I think each of us has brought our own little flavour into the band and mixed together it comes out as what you’re hearing.

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

It sounds cheesy but day to day life, really. When we’re content it’s harder to write but as soon as something happens to rock the boat it all comes pouring out. Sometimes we sabotage ourselves just to get something to write about, but being a band of sooky emotionals [made up word] generally it’s not hard to find something to pull inspiration from. Also just hearing, seeing and experiencing music from other great bands inspires us in our writing.

What can punters expect from a Tired Lion live show?

We try to put on a high energy show which ends up being lots of sweat and long hair flying everywhere. We put everything we’ve got into a live performance and lately it’s been great to see audiences getting a bit raucous and joining in.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

A good friend of ours Dave Parkin who is responsible for recording our latest EP and the single “I Don’t Think You Like Me” is kind of like a wise father figure to us. Throughout the recording process we’d often come to him with an issue of life, love or whatever and he’d always have some pretty cool advice. It’s hard to pinpoint an exact example but if anyone ever gets to meet him or has met him you’ll get it. Sensei Parko!

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

Probably Violent Soho’s “Muscle Junkie”, if someone’s crying it’s usually because some loser has done something to upset them. Without knowing exactly what the song is about “Muscle Junkie” seems like one big f**k you to someone, plus the loud guitars are an automatic cheer up. I know it makes all of us in TL happy blasting a bit of Soho as loud as we can in the car.

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?

Maybe “Get Out Of Here” by Bored Nothing, it’s reminiscent of a troubled Elliott Smith and such a beautiful song. In the right frame of mind, at the right time and with the right person I’m sure they’d shed a tear.

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?

In Melbourne about a month ago we hijacked the guest DJ spot at the Luca Brasi show after party. We took over just as the dance floor was pumping from some well-placed bangers. We put on Bodyjar’s “Not the Same” and everyone went absolutely crazy, some even rushing the stage to sing along. We were pretty stoked to see people give it up for a classic.

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?

The last local gig we went to was a little floor show mid-week in Leederville just outside of Perth City. It was one of those shows where nothing is mic-ed up and the vocals can barely be heard over the loud guitars and drums. This gig albeit a pretty basic set-up was awesome, a new band called Hip Priest (members from unearthed bands Silver Hills and Rag ‘N Bone) absolutely killed it for their first show ever, immediately afterwards we asked them on to support us for a local headline show we had in the coming weeks.

Tell us about the bands or people in the WA music community that inspire you.

The WA music community is a great thing to be a part of and basically everyone involved inspires and supports us. We could go all day giving shout outs but…; Pat Chow, Timothy Nelson & The Infidels, Apollo’s Son, Silver Hills, Emperors, Apache, Foam, Rag ‘N Bone, The Love Junkies, Black Stone from the Sun, our Manager Jake, Claire and Mike from WAM, Rachael Barrett Photography, Mitch and Lizard from the Prince. That’s just to name a few and missing probably one million others that make being in a WA band so rad.

What are your plans for 2015?

Our plan is to be as busy as possible, next weekend we’ve got Groovin the Moo in Bunbury. Then next month we hit the road with British India to tour their new single across Australia as well as releasing a new single ourselves. The following month we’ll likely be releasing an EP followed by our own Australian Tour. We’ve locked in a few mini-festivals over east towards the latter part of this year, and of course in between we are always writing and working towards our debut album.